Meat is the best source of protein

The argument

Protein is the building block of life. Proteins create and repair our cells and are therefore crucial for physical growth and development. Protein cannot be built up and stored in the body, therefore we need a consistent supply to maintain our strength — which means the question is not only whether a diet contains protein but whether it can supply it reliably, day after day. The consequences of failing to do so are serious: protein deficiencies can weaken the immune system, making it more susceptible to infection and less effective at combatting it, and they also lead to 'muscle wasting' which weakens the body overall. Meat is overall a more accessible source of protein, proponents of this position argue, and for two distinct reasons. The first concerns composition, since not all proteins are created equal. Plant protein is incomplete, meaning it does not contain all of the amino acids that the body needs; meat, on the other hand, does. A source that supplies the full set within a single food requires no planning to combine several others correctly. The second reason is practical. Meat is a versatile source of protein — it can be cooked in lots of ways according to your skill and time restraints, unlike vegetarian proteins which require more preparation. That versatility bears directly on the consistency the body demands, because a food that can be prepared quickly and in many ways is one a person will actually eat regularly. Vegetarian diets are not yet accessible to many people as they require more skill, time, preparation, and even money to prepare. Judged by whether people can reliably meet their protein needs rather than by whether an ideal diet is theoretically possible, meat therefore offers the most convenient and effective way of maintaining our protein needs.

Premises

Counter-arguments

Meat is certainly a good source of protein, but there is no evidence to prove it to be the objective best source. Some of the best sources of protein are not in fact found in meat. Yoghurt, milk, eggs, beans, and legumes all contain similar amounts of protein as meat. Unlike meat, plant proteins also contain fiber, an important substance for healthy digestion. Eating too much meat is not healthy, and therefore to depend on meat a primary source of protein may lead to other health consequences linked to eating too much meat, such as heart disease and high cholesterol.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] That the body needs a steady supply of protein is not in dispute and does nothing to establish that meat in particular must supply it. [Rejecting P2] "Incomplete" describes individual plant foods rather than plant-based diets. As the counter-argument notes, eggs, dairy, beans and legumes provide comparable protein, combinations of plant foods cover the full range of amino acids, and plant sources also carry fibre, which meat does not. [Rejecting P3] Skill, time and money are claims about circumstance rather than nutrition, and they vary by household and region — beans, lentils and grains are among the cheapest protein sources on the market, which cuts directly against the accessibility claim.